Rinsing method of washing machine

ABSTRACT

A rinsing method of a washing machine according to the present invention supplies fabric softener after getting fabric wet by spraying water through a spray nozzle. Therefore, not only fabric can become fully wet while reducing water used for rinsing but also fabric softener can be spread out evenly over the fabric.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rinsing method of a washing machine.More specifically, the present invention relates to a rinsing method ofa washing machine capable of supplying fabric softener while gettingfabric fully wet by spraying water by a spray nozzle.

2. Description of the Conventional Art

In general, a washing machine is a device for washing or drying fabric.A washing machine washes fabric by receiving fabric in a washing tub andputting in detergent with water. After washing, detergent remaining inthe fabric is removed by supplying water not containing detergent to thefabric. To this purpose, various methods for supplying water to awashing tub exist.

When water is supplied to a washing tub, fabric softener is input withwater. Fabric softener is combined with water in a detergent box andthus supplied to a washing tub. Fabric softener contains such materialthat removes unpleasant smell of fabric or prevents fabric damage.Therefore, when fabric softener is supplied, it is important to supplyof fabric softener in a uniform rate.

Also, it is required to reduce the amount of water consumed duringfabric rinsing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a rinsing method of awashing machine capable of supplying fabric softener effectively whilegetting fabric fully wet using a small amount of water.

A rinsing method of a washing machine according to the presentinvention, comprises water spraying that water not containing detergentis sprayed to a washing tub through a spray nozzle; and fabric softenersupplying that water containing fabric softener is supplied to thewashing tub through a detergent box; wherein the water spraying and thefabric softener supplying are sequentially started and are repeated fora predetermined number of times.

In the present invention, if a predetermined time is passed since thewater spraying has started, and the fabric softener supplying is startedwhile the water spraying is performed.

In the present invention, water not containing detergent is supplied tothe washing tub by the spray nozzle while the fabric softener issupplied.

In the present invention, the washing tub rotates while the waterspraying and the fabric softener supplying are performed.

In the present invention, further comprises spin drying of fabric byrotating the washing tub.

In the present invention, the water spraying, the spin drying, and thefabric softener supplying are repeated sequentially for a predeterminednumber of times.

A rinsing method of a washing machine according to the another aspect ofthe present invention, comprises a first water spraying that water notcontaining detergent is sprayed to a washing tub through a spray nozzle;spin drying of fabric by rotating the washing tub after the first waterspraying; a second water spraying that water not containing detergent issprayed to the washing tub through the spray nozzle; and fabric softenersupplying that water containing fabric softener is supplied to thewashing tub through a detergent box after the second water spraying isstarted.

In the present invention, water not containing detergent is supplied tothe washing tub through the spray nozzle while the fabric softener issupplied.

In the present invention, the washing tub rotates while the first waterspraying, the second water spraying, and the fabric softener supplyingare performed.

A rinsing method of a washing machine according to the presentinvention, since water is sprayed through a spray nozzle, provides anadvantageous effect of getting fabric fully wet while reducing waterused for rinsing.

Also, since fabric softener is supplied when fabric is wet by sprayingwater through a spray nozzle, fabric softener can be spread out evenlywithout being massed into lumps, thereby improving rinsing effect.

In addition, if fabric softener is supplied together with water sprayedthrough a spray nozzle, fabric softener is spread out being mixed withsprayed water, achieving the effect of spraying fabric softener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a washing machine according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 as seen along II-IIline;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a control flow of a washingmachine according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a water flow of a washing machineaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washingmachine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of a spin drying method of a washingmachine according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washingmachine according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washingmachine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of a spin drying method of a washingmachine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a washing machine according tothe present invention and FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view ofFIG. 1 as seen along II-II line.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing machine 100 comprises acabinet (not shown), an outer tub 130 disposed inside the cabinet andstoring water, and a washing tub 140 disposed inside the outer tub 130and performing washing of fabric.

At one side of an outer tub 130, connected is a suspension 120 absorbingvibration of the outer tub 130 and the washing tub 140. In the lowerpart of the washing tub 140, disposed is a pulsator 141 which makesfabric and water inside a washing tub flow according to rotation.

In the lower part of the washing tub 140, disposed is a drivingapparatus 150 which drives the pulsator 141 and the washing tub 140. Atone side of the driving apparatus 150, disposed is a clutch (not shown)which drives the washing tub 140 and the pulsator 141 selectively.

Meanwhile, in one side of the cabinet, disposed is a washing watersupply apparatus 160 which provides water from the outside to thewashing tub 140 and the outer tub 130. In one side of the cabinet,disposed is a draining apparatus 154 which drains water of the washingtub 140 and the outer tub 130 to the outside.

The cabinet comprises a cabinet main body 111; a top cover 112 disposedand connected at the top of the cabinet main body 111; and a controlpanel 114 which have an input unit 114A receiving input signals form theuser.

A lead assembly 113 is connected to the top cover 112 and the top cover112 opens and closes a fabric entrance hole.

At one side of the top cover 112, connected is a detergent box 118 whichstores detergent and fabric softener. Also, at the other side of the topcover 112, disposed is a spray nozzle which sprays water to the washingtub 140.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a control flow of a washingmachine according to the present invention and FIG. 4 illustrates ablock diagram of a water flow of a washing machine according to thepresent invention.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the washing water supply apparatus 160comprises a first fluid path 163 (see FIG. 4) guiding water notcontaining detergent to the spray nozzle 119 from the outside and asecond fluid path 164 (see FIG. 4) guiding water to the detergent box118 from the outside.

The first fluid path 163 and the second fluid path 164 are disposedseparately. In other words, the first fluid path 163 and the secondfluid path 164 supply water from the outside to the spray nozzle 119 andthe detergent box 118, respectively.

In the first fluid path 163, disposed is a first valve 161 controllingwater supply through the first fluid path 163. In the second fluid path164, disposed is a second valve 162 controlling water supply through thesecond fluid path 164.

Also, a washing machine according to the present invention furthercomprises a controller 190 which controls opening and closing of thefirst valve 161 and the second valve 162.

The controller 190 is not only capable of opening the first valve 161and the second valve 162 sequentially but also capable of controllingthe opening at the same time.

The controller 190, at the time of opening the first valve 161, cancontrol the washing tub to rotate.

Also, the controller 190 controls the driving apparatus 150 and thedraining apparatus 154 according to signals input to the input unit114A.

Operation of a washing machine as constituted above according to thepresent invention is described.

When the washing machine starts to operate, water supplied from theoutside is combined with detergent and thus supplied to the washing tub140.

At this time, the controller 190 opens the second valve 162 to supplywater through the second fluid path 164. Water supplied from the outsideto the second fluid path 164 flows to the detergent box 118 and iscombined with detergent inside the detergent box 118.

If water flows into the detergent box 118 more than a predeterminedwater level, water combined with detergent can be supplied to thewashing tub 140 due to siphon phenomenon.

When water supply is completed to a predetermined water level inside thewashing tub 140, the controller 190 operates the driving apparatus 150to rotate the washing tub 140 and performs a washing course of removingforeign substances of fabric.

When the washing course is completed, the controller 190 operates thedriving apparatus 150 to rotate the washing tub 140 and performs a spindrying course by which fabric is spin dried.

When the first spin drying course is completed, the controller 190,while controlling opening and closing of the first valve 161 and thesecond valve 162, performs a rinsing course by which fabric is rinsed.The rinsing course is described in detail later.

After a spin drying course is performed after the rinsing course, theoperation of the washing machine is terminated.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washingmachine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 5, a rinsing method of a washing machineaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention is described.

When the rinsing course is started S110, water should be supplied fromthe outside to the washing tub 140 and the outer tub 130.

The controller 190 opens the first valve 161 and performs a waterspraying process where water not containing detergent is sprayed to thewashing tub 140 through the spray nozzle 119, S120.

When water is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119, fabric within thewashing tub 140 is soaked. Since spraying of water to the side wall andbottom surface of the washing tub 140 is possible when water is sprayedthrough the spray nozzle 119, spraying of water to the fabric adhered tothe side wall of the washing tub 140 is also possible.

At the time of supplying water through the spray nozzle 119, sincefabric is uniformly and sufficiently soaked, rinsing effect can beimproved even with a small amount of water.

At the water spraying S120, the controller 190 controls the drivingapparatus 150 and rotates the washing tub 140. Since the washing tub 140is rotated, water can be uniformly sprayed inside the washing tub 140.

When fabric is sufficiently soaked inside the washing tub 140, thecontroller 190 opens the second valve 162 and performs a fabric softenersupplying process where water containing fabric softener is suppliedthrough the detergent box 118 to the washing tub S130.

The fabric softener supplying S130 is started after the water sprayingprocess S120 is performed for predetermined time duration.

In the fabric softener supplying S130, the controller 190 opens thesecond valve 162 and makes water supplied from the outside flow to thedetergent box 118. Since fabric softener is already stored inside thedetergent box 118, water flowed into the detergent box 118 is combinedwith fabric softener stored and thus, can be supplied to the washing tub140.

In the fabric softener supplying S130, the controller 190 controls thedriving apparatus 150 and rotates the washing tub 140.

Meanwhile, the fabric softener supplying S130 can be started after thewater spraying S120 is terminated; at the same time, the fabric softenersupplying S130 can be started while the water spraying S120 is underway.

At this time, it is assumed that if a predetermined time is passed fromwhen the water spraying S120 has started, the fabric softener supplyingS130 is also performed with the water spraying S120. In other words, iffabric is getting fully wet through the water spraying S120, the fabricsoftener supplying S130 is started. Therefore, since the fabric softeneris supplied while the fabric has become wet in some degree as the waterspraying S120 is performed, the fabric softener can be spread out evenlyover the fabric without being massed into lumps.

Also, even if the fabric softener supplying S130 is started, the waterspraying S120 is performed without stopping.

When the second fluid path 164 is opened and the fabric softener issupplied, the first fluid path 163 is still kept opened and water notcontaining detergent can be continuously supplied through the spraynozzle 119.

The first fluid path 163 and the second fluid path 164 are both openedand water can be supplied through both the spray nozzle 119 and thedetergent box 118. At the time of supplying fabric softener, since watersupply is performed through the spray nozzle 119, fabric softener can bespread uniformly.

In a washing machine according to the present embodiment, the firstfluid path 163 and the second fluid path 164 are disposed separately;therefore, when water not containing detergent is supplied through thespray nozzle 119 during rinsing course, supply of fabric softener ismade possible.

Also, since water is supplied through the spray nozzle 119, amount ofwater consumed during rinsing course can be reduced.

Meanwhile, not limited to the embodiment, opening the first valve 161after opening the second valve 162 first is also possible.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of a spin drying method of a washingmachine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 6, in a rinsing method of a washing machineaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention, thecontroller 190 controls the number of performance of the rinsing course.

The controller 190, when the spin drying course is completed, sets thenumber of performance n of the rinsing course to 0, S220.

And the controller 190 performs a water spraying S230 where water notcontaining detergent is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119 and afabric softener supplying S240 where water containing fabric softener issupplied through the detergent box 118 by opening the second valve 162.

Details of the water spraying S230 and the fabric softener supplyingS240 are the same as in the first embodiment, detailed descriptionassociated therewith is not provided.

When a rinsing course including the water spraying S230 and the fabricsoftener supplying S240 is completed, the controller 190 determineswhether a performance count (n) of the rinsing course and apredetermined number N are the same S250 or not.

The controller 190, if the performance count (n) of the rinsing courseis found to be less than a predetermined number N, adds 1 to theperformance count (n) of the rinsing course S251.

And the controller 190 again performs the water spraying S230 and thefabric softener supplying S240.

The controller 190 repeats the rinsing course until the performancecount (n) of the rinsing course including the water spraying S230 andthe fabric softener supplying S240 reaches a predetermined number N.

If a performance count (n) of the rinsing course reaches a predeterminednumber N, the rinsing course is terminated and a spin drying course isstarted.

As described above, as the rinsing course is performed multiple times,removal of detergent remaining in the fabric can be done moreeffectively. Also, since water is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119,amount of water consumed for rinsing can be reduced even if the rinsingcourse is repeated multiple times.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washingmachine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 7, in a rinsing method of a washing machineaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention, the controller190 opens the first valve 161 when the rinsing course is started. Whenthe first valve 161 is opened, a first water spraying where water notcontaining detergent is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119 isperformed S320.

After a predetermined time is passed, the controller 190 opens the firstvalve 161 and performs a spin drying where fabric is spin dried byrotating the washing tub 140, S330.

After the spin drying is completed, the controller 190 again opens thefirst valve 161 and performs a second water spraying where water notcontaining detergent is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119, S340.

After a predetermined time is passed, the controller 190 opens thesecond valve 162 and supplies water containing fabric softener to thewashing tub 140 through the second fluid path 164, S350.

The controller 190 controls the washing tub 140 to rotate continuously.

When the second valve 162 is opened, the first valve 161 can also bekept to be opened.

As described above, although description was given to the case wherespraying through the spray nozzle 119 is performed two times, performingmore than two times is still possible.

In the present embodiment, water not containing detergent is sprayedthrough the spray nozzle 119 and fabric is spin dried after sufficientlyrinsed; and then fabric softener is supplied. Therefore, rinsing effectis improved and supply of fabric softener at the time of rinsing canalso be made possible.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washingmachine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 8, in a spin drying method of a washing machineaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, thecontroller 190 controls a performance count of the rinsing course.

The controller 190, when the spin drying course is completed, sets theperformance count (n) of the rinsing course to zero S420.

And the controller 190, by opening the first valve 161, performs a firstwater spraying where water not containing detergent is sprayed throughthe spray nozzle 119, S430.

When a predetermined time is passed, the controller 190 closes the firstvalve 161 and performs a spin drying where fabric is spin dried byrotating the washing tub 140, S440.

When the spin drying is completed, the controller 190 again opens thefirst valve 161 and performs a second spray water supplying where waternot containing detergent is sprayed through the spay nozzle 119, S450.

When a predetermined time is passed, the controller 190 opens the secondvalve 162 and performs a fabric softener supplying where watercontaining fabric softener is supplied through the detergent box 118,S460.

If a spin drying including all of the first water spraying S430, thespin drying S440, the second water spraying S450, and the fabricsoftener supplying S460 is completed, the controller 190 determineswhether the performance count (n) of the spin drying and a predeterminednumber N are the same S470.

The controller 190, if the performance count (n) of the spin drying isfound to be less than a predetermined number N, adds 1 to theperformance count (n) of the spin drying S471.

And the controller 190 again performs the first water spraying S430, thespin drying S440, the second water spraying S450, and the fabricsoftener supplying S460.

The controller 190 repeats the spin drying course until the performancecount (n) of the rinsing including all of the first water spraying S430,the spin drying S440, the second water spraying S450, and the fabricsoftener supplying S460 reaches a predetermined number N.

When the performance count (n) of the rinsing course reaches apredetermined number N, the rinsing course is terminated and a spindrying course is started.

As described above, as the rinsing course is performed multiple times,removal of detergent remaining in the fabric can be done moreeffectively. Also, since water is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119,amount of water consumed for rinsing can be reduced even if the rinsingcourse is repeated multiple times.

Also, by repeating spraying of water through the spray nozzle 119multiple times and performing spin drying between water sprayingprocesses, rinsing effect can be improved.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of a spin drying method of a washingmachine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 9, a rinsing method of a washing machineaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

When the rinsing course is started, the controller 190 can open thefirst valve 161 and the second valve 162 at the same time S610, S620. Ifthe first valve 161 and the second valve 162 are opened at the sametime, water not containing detergent is sprayed and at the same time,supply of fabric softener is made possible.

Therefore, total time for the rinsing course can be reduced and fabricsoftener can be spread out uniformly.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other specificembodiments of the invention can be made without departing from thespirit or modifying fundamental characteristics of the invention. Thus,it should be understood that the embodiments described above areprovided as examples in all aspects and do not limit modifications andvariations of the invention. The scope of the invention is specified bythe appended claims rather than the detailed description given above. Itshould be interpreted that the spirit and the scope of the claims andall the modifications or variations derived from their equivalentsbelong to the scope of the invention.

1. A rinsing method of a washing machine, comprising: water sprayingthat water not containing detergent is sprayed to a washing tub througha spray nozzle; and fabric softener supplying that water containingfabric softener is supplied to the washing tub through a detergent box;wherein the water spraying and the fabric softener supplying aresequentially started and are repeated for a predetermined number oftimes.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein if a predetermined time ispassed since the water spraying has started, and the fabric softenersupplying is started while the water spraying is performed.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein water not containing detergent is supplied tothe washing tub through the spray nozzle while the fabric softener issupplied.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the washing tub rotateswhile the water spraying and the fabric softener supplying areperformed.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising spin drying offabric by rotating the washing tub.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinthe water spraying, the spin drying, and the fabric softener supplyingare repeated sequentially for a predetermined number of times.
 7. Arinsing method of a washing machine, comprising: a first water sprayingthat water not containing detergent is sprayed to a washing tub througha spray nozzle; spin drying of fabric by rotating the washing tub afterthe first water spraying; a second water spraying that water notcontaining detergent is sprayed to the washing tub through the spraynozzle; and fabric softener supplying that water containing fabricsoftener is supplied to the washing tub through a detergent box afterthe second water spraying is started.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereinwater not containing detergent is supplied to the washing tub throughthe spray nozzle while the fabric softener supplying is supplied.
 9. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the washing tub rotates while the first waterspraying, the second water spraying, and the fabric softener supplyingare performed.